Preparing for the Unknown: The Next Two Years and Beyond

ID: WMA2026_644

Track:

It is no secret that the federal funding cuts and the actions of the current administration have the field making difficult decisions and grapple with uncertainty of the time. As individuals we might not have all the answers now, but we are not alone. This session invites the participants to engage with a question of “what can the museum field do now and in the next two years to prepare for the unknown future?” Joined by the facilitators from [IMLS, Utah State government, cultural access funding agencies], the participants will go through asset mapping and collective brainstorming of actions – small and large – that help us ASPIRE to be prepared for what may come.

Session Information

Format: Regular session/panel (roundtable, single speaker, etc.)

Uniqueness: It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and defeated when thinking about cuts to the federal and state funding for the museum field. This session makes a space to grapple with this difficult time, and help the participants think through what is possible now.

Objectives:

• Participants will leave with feeling of affirmation that they are not alone in feeling overwhelmed or defeated in this time
• Participants will take away one concrete action that they, as museum professionals, can take 
• Participants will take away one concrete action that their organization might engage in

Engagement: This session is designed to be conversational where the participants are invited to share and discuss with each other. Acknowledging that the presenters (who will participate as conversation facilitators) might not have the answers to all the questions about what might happen to federal/state/municipal funding.

Relationship to Theme:

Audience

Audiences: Development and Membership Officers Other 

Professional Level: All levels 

Scalability: The federal and state funding cuts are a reality for all museums, big and small, urban and rural. How we might aspire to take action in this difficult time is applicable to every museum professionals.

Participants